When you decide that you want to play soccer, you should take the time that you need to be sure that you are safe. There are a lot of people that get injured playing soccer and you want to take the time that you need to research how you can ensure that you are preventing soccer injuries.

First, you should be sure that you take the time that you need to understand how you are going to be wise about the way that you are going to prepare for a game. Whether you are playing indoor soccer, outdoor soccer or street soccer you want to be sure that you are ready for the game.

To ensure that your body is ready you will want to make sure that you can stretch out your muscles. When you are stretching you want to make sure that you are also warming up your muscles so that they are able to stretch as far as they can before you start playing.

Soccer is full of quick movements that can be very detrimental to tight muscles. Make sure that you take the time that you need to understand how you are going to stretch out all of your muscles so that you can be sure you are able to move quickly without hurting yourself.

As you are playing soccer you will use a very specific set of muscles. Throughout the game, you may find that you are not only using the specified set of muscles but that you also end up using all of the muscles throughout your body as you are running, twisting and turning to make a goal.

To ensure that you are able to minimize your chances of being injured, you should be sure that you are warming up. As you stretch your muscles you will also want to lightly jog around the entire field so that you can get an increased amount of blood flow into your muscles.

Second, you should be sure that you take the time that you need to understand how you are going to dress when you play soccer. There are a lot of people that do not realize how they are to suit up to ensure that they are safe and those that are playing with them and around them are safe.

Make sure that you take time to find a good pair of soccer cleats. There are a lot of people that have a hard time understanding that when they are shopping for soccer cleats they will want to find the cleats that are molded or ribbed instead of the cleats that have the screw in rips.

When you are using the screw in tips you will find that you have a higher risk of injury. The only time that these tips are going to be more beneficial than risky is when you are playing on a wet field or even a field that has tall grass and is being slippery because there is no traction.

Third, you should be sure that you are wearing shin guards. When you are shopping for shin guards you have to make sure that you take the time that you need to find the protection for your shins that will ensure you are able to play safely without running into any problems.

As you are playing with your shin guards you have to make sure that you understand that people are going to be kicking your shins. Throughout the soccer game you will find that people will accidentally or purposely hit your shins with their cleats and you will need the proper protection.

Fourth, you should be sure that you take the time that you need to be sure that you are wearing soccer socks. The soccer socks that you are going to wear will ensure that the shin guards you are wearing will not slip all over your leg or even fall off when you are playing.

Make sure that you take the time that you need to understand how you are going to be wise about the way that you are preparing for each soccer game. As you are wise about the proper preparation for your soccer games you can be sure that you are as safe as you can possibly be.

Playing street soccer is a great way to work out and keep your body healthy. Take time to play soccer consistently so that you can be sure you are enjoying your exercise.

Sports. Some of us hate them, some of us love them. Some of us grew up as the team’s shining star. They woke up early on the weekends for football or baseball practice, or ran track until they puked. Then there were those of us who preferred to sit on the sidelines and watch. We relished the use of the snooze button and slept ’til noon every Saturday and then got up and turned on the TV or played video games. This trend has continued over the decades, with more and more kids turning on TVs instead of getting turned on to sports. The effects of this trend have been disturbing with childhood obesity rates on the rise, and far too many kids getting into trouble with drugs and violence. If sports were part of the lives of more young people, we might see the trend reverse.

Tackling Childhood Obesity Through Athletics

In most areas, some type of sport activity is available for kids of various age groups. While some children are eager to play sports, there are some children who simply do not show much interest in competing. However, in light of the obesity rates in children that continue to skyrocket, it just seems like common sense that some sort of physical activity should be part of every child’s life.

“Look at the obesity rate for kids right now. It’s terrible. Do I force my kids to do sports? YES! I don’t make them play a sport that they don’t like, but they will play a sport,” explained Dr. Kevin Berry, a Denver, Colorado dentist and father of three.

A High-tech World May Not Be The Healthiest For Children

Younger generations seem drawn to the latest and greatest technologies of today like moths to a flame. They spend hours of every day browsing the Internet, using their cell phones, gaming, and watching television. All of these activities require little to no physical movement, except maybe for kids playing with Microsoft Xbox’s new Kinect® system.

Parents need to step in to ensure that technology-based activities don’t monopolize the lives of today’s children. There is always time for sports, and if there isn’t time, time should be made for them. Sports allow children to be active and to spend time away from the devices that seem to be glued to their hands.

Studies have shown that the less active a child is, the higher chance he/she has of becoming overweight. The less kids move and the more downtime they have, the more likely they are to pack on pounds. Health agencies push for at least 60 minutes of physical activity for children each day and with sports, exercise becomes less mundane and much more exciting.

Playing to Learn

In addition to fighting the childhood obesity epidemic, sports are also important in helping children to grow and learn as high-functioning members of society. Sports allow a child to learn the importance of team work, dedication, proper social skills, the art of fair competition, and can even build a child’s self-esteem. As explained by Dr. Berry, “Sports give kids a sense of brotherhood; it keeps my son out of trouble. It reinforces the message of right and wrong that he gets at home. Even if it’s not competitive, it is a good use of their time.” Sports also keep parents involved in their child’s development.

Your child doesn’t need to be the local team’s star quarterback or the soccer team’s best goalie, but he should partake in some sort of sport. With such a variety of sporting activities available today, your kids should be able to find something that they can enjoy doing that doesn’t involve going online.

Ashley Page writes for Off-Topic Media. Dr. Kevin Berry is a general dentist who focuses on treating TMJ disorder and sleep apnea. He can be contacted at:

Many of my contemporaries in the gym use a variety of legal sports supplements to help with their weight training and muscle mass gain. I have used them in the past but now am completely committed to training and building up my muscle with no supplements. I feel a lot better for doing so and have the peace of mind that I have achieved my muscle growth completely naturally with no artificial aids or sports supplements.

One of the most popular aids to weight training is something called the Creatine sports supplement. Creatine helps to increase your muscle gain, but my experiences of using Creatine sports supplements have been negative. I didn’t notice any visible muscle improvements in over three months of use, plus had some unpleasant side effects to using Creatine which included stomach cramps and frequent trips to the toilet.

If you are going to use a Creatine sports supplement then I would advise you always go and have a consultation at your local medical center. They will be able to tell you if it is a good idea for you to take Creatine or not. They will also help you look at other body building favourites including Nitric Oxide supplements and whether or not your body will be compatible or not.

Nitric Oxide supplements are popular because they give you that feeling of being really pumped up when you leave the gym, but as with the Creatine sports supplement, I prefer a natural look to my body – and have achieved the physique I am really happy with through pure motivation and hard work.

By advice to any budding weight lifter or body builder who is just starting out would be to try and attain your goals with sheer will power – although sports supplements are very popular in the gym and do work for a lot of guys, there is nothing better than attaining muscle without any help apart from pumping weights all day – give it a go and see how you get on.

Many people are unprepared when they start running so their exercise regime only lasts a few weeks. Often their bodies begin to hurt because they have a faulty running technique. This article will outline a few simple running tips which will help you avoid these problems. You will then be able to run safely and regularly, without having to give up because of an easily avoidable injury.

Firstly you should try not to land on your heel. This is a common mistake which is easy to fix. The heel is not cushioned so when you land on it, it puts unnecessary stress on the rest of the leg. This is the tip which you should make sure you implement first of all, as it will enable you to run faster while putting less stress on the shins and knees, and can help to prevent shin splints. You should also try to avoid stretching your stride as this can make you run very inefficiently. Running like this pushes your leg away from your centre of balance which means you have to place extra force on your hip to allow your body to catch up with your front foot.

Another beginners’ running tip is to maintain a consistent step turnover rate so that your muscles can work to their full potential. The toughness of a run is not determined by the rate of stepping, but by the force you exert with each step. So the speed at which you run is relative to the force with which you push off the ground. If you can incorporate these running tips for beginners into your routine you will reduce the risk of injury while running in a more efficient manner. Your muscles will be used to their potential, and with the addition of some good quality running shoes you will avoid many of the common overuse injuries found in novice runners.

You look like a passionate salsa dancer! It seems like you have been practicing those basic Salsa moves for a while with that hot partner of yours. Salsa is a great dance to have in your life. It enriches it and glorifies your life. You know the basic backward and forward steps, why leave it there? You are now in need for an introductory class for some advanced salsa steps. Salsa is a cheeky dance with a lot of intricate footwork and eye-catching twists and turns that would burn your fat, build your body muscles and get you a great body.

There are many exotic salsa moves, here are examples of some. Side-way basic, also known as the drop side is a move where you turn right and left, while doing the typical front and back move. Another salsa move is the Cuban open step. This move is simply moving diagonally to the left and diagonally to the right. Then you make a cross step sideways by crossing your right leg over your left leg.

A third example of an exotic salsa move is the spot turn. This move can be performed by two dancers; they do a full turn without moving from their spot. Extension is also a basic salsa move; this is when both partners break away from each other in different directions, creating arm tension. Cross body is when you switch positions with your partner in a counter clockwise form. Reverse cross body, however, is the opposite. You switch positions with your partner in a clockwise fashion.

The above are only a sample of the many steps you will learn as you progress in salsa. As anything, it is always better to practice these moves rather than simply read about them. A good way to start is to download a good salsa video for the best dancers, such as Louis van Amstel, and then follow the steps of the instructor closely. You will find your salsa moves improving significantly, and the next time you go to a salsa class, you will have something to add.

Many people who start out running simply pull on their new running shoes and set off around their local streets or parks. Often, they retire from their fitness regime within a few weeks because their knees start playing up, or their hips or lower back hurt so much both during exercise and afterwards. The problem is that nobody teaches us how to run properly, and most beginners’ injuries are a result of poor technique. Here are a few simple tips which will help you to ward off unnecessary overuse injuries such as shin splints and painful joints.

1. Stop Heel Striking – landing on the heel of the front foot is very common among beginners because they stretch their leg forward, locking the knee, when they stride. Unfortunately, the human heel is not cushioned and is designed mainly for balance. So if you only try out one of these running tips for beginners, this is the one to incorporate into your exercise: always aim to land on your forefoot. This allows you to make effective use of your foot’s natural shock absorber in the arch, and also provides some elastic recoil, which will enable you to run faster with less stress on your shins and knees.

2. Stop Stretching Your Stride – stretching your front leg out in front of you, and landing your foot ahead of your center of balance is a very bad practice. It forces you to land on your heel and since it is usually accompanied by a locked leg, it creates extra stress for the knee joints. You will also find that running this way can slow you down, because you have to pivot your hip to catch up with the front foot before you can push off into your next stride. This means you are running very inefficiently as well as potentially causing harm. So, shorten your stride length and aim to land your front foot underneath your hip. This will allow you to push off much faster, it will enable you to land on the forefoot rather than the heel, and it will minimize unnecessary shocks to your leg joints.

3. Stop Varying Your Turnover Rate – many new runners think that a leisurely jog means a slow turnover rate (also called cadence), while a faster, more competitive run means increasing the number of steps per minute. In truth, you should always aim for 180 steps per minute. Your speed is then controlled by the force you exert on the ground at each toe off. So running for fun should feel as if you are floating along, whereas serious running should leave you with a nice ‘burn’ in your calves, glutes and hip muscles, but your steps per minute should not change. This cadence is ideal for ensuring you maximize the elastic recoil from the springy tendons and muscles in your feet and lower legs, helping you to conserve some of your energy and keep muscle fatigue at bay for longer.

If you can start to include these three beginners’ running tips into your new exercise program, you will find that you can run more efficiently, more rapidly and with less potential for injuries. The only other thing to add is a properly fitting pair of running shoes and you should be safe for your next year of jogging.